Virus Encyclopedia

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Bios.2048.A

Threat LevelLow threat
DamageHigh
DistributionNot widespread

At a glance

Technical name:Bios.2048.A
Threat level:Low
Alias:Meta-2048
Type:Virus
Effects: It carries out damaging actions on the affected computer. It captures certain information entered or saved by the user, with the corresponding threat to privacy. It causes the loss of information stored on the computer, either specific files or data in general. It affects the productivity of the computer, the network to which it’s connected or other remote sites. It carries out actions that decrease the security level of the computer. It does not spread automatically using its own means.
Affected platforms:

MS-DOS

Detection updated on:June 11, 2003
StatisticsNo

Brief Description

Bios.2048.A is a virus that spreads to other computers by copying its code to other files or programs.

Bios.2048.A prevents access from programs to websites of several companies related with security tools (antivirus programs, firewalls, etc.).

Bios.2048.A redirects attempts to access web pages of certain banks to spoofed pages, with the aim of logging information entered by the user in these pages.

Bios.2048.A redirects attempts to access several web pages to a specific IP address.

Bios.2048.A does not spread automatically using its own means. It needs an attacking user's intervention in order to reach the affected computer. The means of transmission used include, among others, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, email messages with attached files, Internet downloads, FTP, IRC channels, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing networks, etc.

Bios.2048.A uses the following infection strategies:

  • Resident: once it has been run, the virus goes memory resident and stops functions belonging to the operating system. Therefore, every time the operating system or an application tries to access any of these functions, the virus will activate and infect new files.
  • Stealth: when the virus is memory resident, it hides the modifications made to the boot sectors or files it has infected. These modifications are: changes in size, date, attributes, etc.
  • Encrypted: it encrypts its code in order to make it difficult to detect. In order to carry out its infection, the virus decrypts itself and, once infection has been carried out, it encrypts itself again.

Tech details

Effects

Bios.2048.A spreads to other computers by copying its code to other files or programs. It has damaging effects on the affected computer.

Means of transmission


Bios.2048.A does not spread automatically using its own means. It needs the attacking user's intervention in order to reach the affected computer. The means of transmission used include, among others, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, email messages with attached files, Internet downloads, FTP, IRC channels, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing networks, etc.

Further Details

Bios.2048.A has the following additional characteristics:

  • It is 2048 bytes in size.

Solution

See solution